Types of conformity + Explanations of comformity

Question 1

What are the 3 types of conformity?

Answer 1

1. Compliance
2. Identification
3. Internalisation

Question 2

What is compliance?

Answer 2

• Involves ‘going along with others’ in public, but privately not changing personal opinions/ behaviour.
• Compliance is only a superficial change.
• A particular behaviour or opinion stops as soon as group pressure stops.

Question 3

What is identification?

Answer 3

• Conforming to the opinions/ group because there is something about that group that we value.
• We identify with the group, so we want to be part of it.
• Publicly change our behaviour/ opinions to achieve this goal, even if we don’t privately agree with everything the group stands for.

Question 4

What is internalisation?

Answer 4

• Occurs when a person genuinely accepts the group norms.
• This results in a private and public change of opinions/ behaviour.
• This change is likely to be permanent because attitudes have been internalised.
• The change in behaviours/opinions persists even in the absence of other group members.

Question 5

What are the explanations for conformity?

Answer 5

• Informative social influence (ISI)
• Normative social influence (NSI)

Question 6

What is the two-process theory?

Answer 6

• Deutsch and Gerard developed a two-process theory, arguing that there are two main reasons people conform. They are based on two central human needs; the need to be right (ISI), and the need to be liked (NSI).

Question 7

Informational social influence (ISI) pt.1

Answer 7

• ISI is a cognitive process because its to do with what you think.
• Is about who has better info- you or the rest of the group.
• Often we are uncertain about what behaviours/ beliefs are right or wrong.
• The reasons individuals follow the behaviour of the group is because they want to be right.

Question 8

Informational social influence (ISI) pt.2

Answer 8

• ISI is most likely to happen in situations that are new to a person, or situations where there is some ambiguity (so isn’t clear what is right).
• Also typical in crisis situations where decisions have to be made quickly.
• Occurs as well when one person/ group is regarded as being more of an expert.

Question 9

Normative social influence (NSI) pt.1

Answer 9

• Is about norms i.e. what is ‘normal’ or typical behaviour for a social group.
• Norms regulate the behaviour of groups and individuals so it is not surprising that people pay attention to them.
• People do not like to appear foolish and prefer to gain social approval rather than be rejected.
• NSI is emotional rather than a cognitive process.

Question 10

Normative social influence (NSI) pt.2

Answer 10

• NSI is most likely to occur in situations with strangers where you may eel concerned about rejection.
• It may also occur with people you know because we are most concerned about the social approval of our friends.
• It may be more pronounced in stressful situations where people have a greater need for social support.